An instrument of ten strings.

As a family, my wife, my daughters, and I are fairly musical. Each of us sings - and, when my daughters were much younger, many car-trips were "shortened" as we sung familiar spiritual songs in four-part harmony! - my wife plays guitar (and Für Elise on the piano!); my elder daughter plays a variety of instruments (she's the professional musician in the family!); and my younger daughter plays keyboard. Me? Well, when it comes to instruments, I can play most tunes on a keyboard, piano, or church organ, provided the tune is in the key of F major!!

I was interested, therefore, to read of a gentleman who, at the midweek prayer-meeting for his church family, prayed in these words: "O Lord, we will praise You; we will praise You with an instrument of ten strings!" Those who were gathered with him wondered at what he meant but, as he continued, it became abundantly clear. "We will praise You with our two eyes, by looking only unto You. We will exalt You with our two ears, by listening only to Your voice. We will extol You with our two hands, by working in Your service. We will honour You with our two feet, by walking in Your ways. We will magnify Your Name with our tongue, by bearing witness to Your loving-kindness. We will worship You with our heart, by loving only You. We thank You, Lord, for this instrument. Keep it in tune; play upon it as You will, and ring out the melodies of Your grace. May its harmonies always express Your glory."

Have you ever thought about yourself as "an instrument of ten strings"? When Frances Ridley Havergal penned the well-known words "Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee" (although many appear to live: "Take my life - and let it be."!) she was expressing the need to make every member of our physical bodies responsive to the Lord's will. Paul emphasises the same truth when he urges the believers in the early church in Rome: "... yield yourselves unto God, as men who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness." (6:13).

When the apostle also wrote his fellow-believers in Rome, to "... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your spiritual worship." (12:1), he was really encouraging every disciple of Jesus, that we might praise God on our "instrument of ten strings"!

Ready to take up music?

"Two eyes to look to God; two ears to hear His Word;
Two feet to serve the Lord; two hands to wield His sword;
One heart to love His ways; one tongue to sing His praise.
Take them, Saviour, let them be always busy, serving Thee." (Anon).